Related Tags:

DELAWARE COUNTY, Pa. (CBS) – Most localities in Delaware County have one month to find someone to handle stray animals, because the SPCA is getting out of that business. It’s a move that’ll put most of those areas in at least a short term bind.

Officials have known for more than a year that this was coming, according to SPCA spokeswoman Justina Calgiano. “Oftentimes, there are more animals that have to be euthanized than are placed in homes, and that’s not compatible with our mission anymore,” Calgiano says.

Thirty-eight towns that used the SPCA to handle strays now have to come up with another plan. County Councilman Mario Civera says he has a plan: build a new shelter on donated land in Darby. “We’ve had a couple people come in on a non-profit that would be interested in running the shelter, but nothing definite yet,” Civera says.

Bottom line: he figures everything will be worked out by year’s end and has asked the SPCA for a 6 month extension. Their answer: they’ll help adopt out animals from any new shelter, but come June 30th, they’ll no longer pick strays up.